Court Dates After Bail: Where to Go & What to Expect in Dallas County
Explains how court dates are scheduled in Dallas County at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, the difference between County Criminal Courts (misdemeanors) and Criminal District Courts (felonies), what happens at each hearing type, and the consequences of missing a court date.
After posting bail in Dallas County, the defendant’s first scheduled court appearance is the arraignment, which typically takes place two to six weeks after charges are filed. All criminal cases in Dallas County — both misdemeanor and felony — are heard at the Frank Crowley Courts Building at 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207. The eleven County Criminal Courts handling misdemeanor cases are located on the third and fourth floors, while the seventeen Criminal District Courts handling felony cases occupy other floors of the same building. At arraignment, the judge reads the formal charges, the defendant enters a plea, and the court sets future hearing dates.
After arraignment, Dallas County judges typically allow no more than four additional court settings before the case must either resolve through a plea agreement or be scheduled for trial, with roughly a month between each setting. The types of hearings a defendant may attend include pretrial conferences, motion hearings, plea hearings, and ultimately a trial if no agreement is reached. The defendant is required to appear at every scheduled court date on time — the date, time, and courtroom are provided at arraignment and sent by mail for subsequent settings. You can also verify court dates through the Dallas County online record search system.
Missing a court date triggers immediate consequences under Texas law, including a capias warrant for arrest and bond forfeiture proceedings under Chapter 22 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. A failure to appear can also result in a separate criminal charge under Texas Penal Code Section 38.10. The best way to avoid these consequences is to keep a calendar of every court date and maintain open communication with your attorney and bail bond agent. If you have questions about upcoming court dates after posting bail in Dallas County, call Act Quick Bail Bonds at (214) 744-1414.